Exploring the 700 Islands of The Bahamas: Names, Histories, Fun Facts

Shortly after landing in The Bahamas and having my dreams of tending tiki bar until the end of time dashed (The Bahamas passport stamp blatantly states “EMPLOYMENT PROHIBITED”—it’s like they know we’ve all seen Cocktail), I learned a very interesting fact from my cab driver: There are 700 islands of The Bahamas!

During a conversation in which I asked way too many questions about the country I’d just entered after completing exactly zero hours of research beforehand, our driver asked me how many islands I thought were in The Bahamas. I immediately knew this was one of those questions where you think the answer is like eight or nine but is actually twenty. So I took a grossly exaggerated shot in the dark and said, “100! LOL I’m so smart.” Umm, damn I was off.

About the islands of The Bahamas

The islands of The Bahamas are formally known as the Commonwealth of The Bahamas because, guess what? They drive on the left here. And if you didn’t know that beforehand, getting in a cab and seeing a 5-year-old in what should be the driver’s seat is quite unsettling.

That’s right folks; The Bahamas have a queen and her name is Liz. I mean, what’s more #islandvibes than Queen Elizabeth herself? Drinking her piña colada with her pinky out. I would totally visit The Bahamas again if they instituted swimming corgis. Can we make that a thing?

The Bahamas was actually the first spot Christopher Columbus landed in 1492 when he “discovered” the New World. (Did you know he never even set foot on the North American mainland? #themoreyouknow) 

The Spanish never colonized The Bahamas but they did succeed in wiping out the entire population of the islands by capturing the local Lucayan tribes and sending them as slaves to Hispaniola (that island that’s half Haiti, half Dominican Republic). This resulted in The Bahamas, now the third richest country in the Americas behind the U.S. and Canada, being virtually deserted until the mid-1600s.

The origin of the word Bahamas is kind of unknown but there are some theories–one being that it’s derived from the Taíno phrase ba ha ma (makes sense) which stands for “big upper middle land.” I point this out because as you read this list of names for the islands of The Bahamas, you’ll totally get why this funny. *Putting. Random. Words. Together. Beep boop beep.*

Also, so you don’t think I’m just a total grammatical dodo, the word The is an official part of the country’s name and, therefore, always capitalized. The Bahamas ⇠ like that.

The islands of The Bahamas

Obviously I was intrigued as soon as I learned there were 700 islands of The Bahamas, but it wasn’t until I started reading a list of their names that I became truly involved. Some are hilarious, some are mysterious, and some are simply: Go home, bloke who named the island, you’re drunk. I’m looking at you, Fanny Cay. I can’t pick a favorite!

I’ve done my best to include all 700 but, alas, some information still eludes me–not helped by the fact that no one has Encyclopedias anymore! Will I have to go back down there and conduct face-to-face island research with a parrot on my shoulder and a pig in tow? Don’t think I won’t!

That being said, if you have information that fills in any blanks in this post, please feel free to shoot me an email or leave a comment below or whip me up a piña colada, post haste. What? It’ll help, I swear. #CocktailsandDreams

‘A’ islands of The Bahamas

• Abaco Islands
• Abner Cay

Acklins Island

Acklins, along with Crooked Island, are two of the more remote islands of The Bahamas and are about as naturally pristine as you can get. They’re covered in miles of undisturbed beaches, limestone caves, and are popular for snorkeling, diving, and bonefishing. So… I’mma just put my house on the market and make a beeline for Acklins Island faster than you can say “keep them daiquiris comin’!”

Acklins Island was settled by American loyalists in 1780 who set up cotton plantations–an industry that was later replaced by sponge diving, that was then later replaced by whatever it is sponges are made out of today. Seriously, what is that stuff?

• Adderley Cay
• Alcorine Cay

Alder Cay

Alder Cay is a private island located 35 miles northwest of Nassau featuring a 5-acre protected lagoon, 2 docks, and a residential duplex. The island boasts phenomenal swimming, fishing, and windsurfing and, it must be your lucky day because combined with Frozen Cay, the two are available for a combined purchase price of only $29 million. A small price to pay for your own natural bird sanctuary, no?

Allen’s Cay

Allen’s Cay is one of only three places left in the world where you can find the endangered Allen’s Cay iguana, a subspecies of the Bahamian Rock Iguana. Apparently they’re friendly and like when you bring them vegetables. You go first.

Ambergris Cays

Made up by Big Amergris Cay and Small Ambergris Cay (you’ll notice a theme in this post). The Ambergris Cays are part of the Turks and Caicos island chain which is also somehow part of The Bahamas. They were named for the plentiful ambergris found on the shores–ambergris being the waxy substance secreted by sperm whales. I’m learning way too much today.

• Andrew Island

Andros Island

Andros Island is the largest island of The Bahamas. We have a winner! It’s actually as big as all other 699 islands combined.

• Angel Cays
• Angle and Fish Cay
• Anna Cay – home to one single pink house.
• Arawak Cay – nicknamed “Fish Fry” so I gots to check dat one out.
• Araway Cay
• Archers Cay
• Athol Island – an uninhabited island used mainly for snorkeling and being the butt of island jokes.
• August Cay

You might like
─
If you’re planning on sailing around the 700 islands of The Bahamas, you may be interested in reading the story of how I cured my motion sickness permanently. It really came in handy on my visit to The Bahamas.

‘B’ islands

• Back Cay
• Bahama Cay
• Bahama Island – Careful guys, you wouldn’t wanna sprain something…
• Bamboo Cay
• Barataria Island
• Barn Cay
• Barracuda Island – Be careful swimming here I’m guessing?
• Base Line Cay
• Beach Cay – Running out of things to name your islands, eh?
• Beacon Cay
• Beak Cay
• Bell Cay
• Ben Cay

Berry Islands

The Berry Islands are a chain in themselves and consist of about thirty other islands, over 100 small cays, but only 807 residents (I guess I’m going to have to update this post every so often? That’s quite exact).

Most of the islands are uninhibited (my favorite kind of island) and collectively they’re known as “The Fish Bowl of The Bahamas” because of the way the currents collect marine life.

• Big Bersus Cay – I think I met her once.
• Big Carters Cay
• Big Cave Cay
• Big Cay
• Big Crab Cay – This sounds both delicious and terrfiying.
• Big Cross Cay
• Big Egg Island – an island of ostriches, I presume
• Big Farmer’s Cay
• Big Fish Cay – named by a caveman, obvs
• Big Grand Cay
• Big Harbour Cay
• Big Hog Cay
• Big Jerry Cay – named for a mob boss, obvs
• Big Joe Downer Cay – the most depressing island of The Bahamas?
• Big Lake Cay – No, the biggest lake in The Bahamas is not even on this island.
• Big Lloyd Cay – named after someone’s hefty cousin probably

Big Major Cay

Big Major Cay is one you may actually have heard of because it has PIGGIES! It’s an uninhibited island in the Exuma chain famous for its Pig Beach where all the little piggies go wee wee wee all the way home.

• Big Pigeon Cay – How much bigger can they get!?
• Big Romers Cay
• Big Thrift Harbour Cay – inhabited purely by used mattress salesmen
• Big Whale Cay
• Big Wood Cay – Naughty meets nautical ⚓
• Billy Cay

Bimini Islands

The Bimini Islands are a chain just 50 miles east of Miami. That’s closer than Cuba. The water around the Bimini Islands is just chock full of shipwrecks. Gah! Take me now! The Biminis are also the location of the actual, gosh-darn Fountain of Youth (even though St. Augustine, FL claims to have it too). Guys, what are we waiting for!? Pack ya damn bags already!

• Bird Cay
• Bitter Guana Cay
• Black Island
• Bo Cat Cay – Look up bocat at your own risk. But like, don’t do it on your work computer. Or at the public library surrounded by children like I just did.
• Bob Cay – What about Bob Cay?
• Bock Cay
• Bonds Cay – the tide pools here are shaken, not stirred.
• Bonefish Cay
• Booby Cay – Alright, you’re cut off.
• Bowe Cay
• Bridges Cay
• Brigantine Cays
• Brown Cay – Black, Brown… I guess we’re on to colors now? Although Turquoise and Magenta Cay would sound much more appealing.
• Brush Cay
• Buena Vista Cay
• Burnside Cay
• Burroughs Cay
• Burrow Cay
• Bursis Cay
• Buttonwood Cay

‘C’ islands

• Cabbage Cay
• Caeser Cay – Someone went through a salad phase apparently
• Calabash Cay
• Cambridge Cay
• Candle Cays
• Carter Cay
• Cashs Cay – also known as Muhammed Island

Castaway Cay

Castaway Cay is a private island owned by Disney and is used solely as a port for Disney cruise ships. Disney’s lease on the island is up in 2096 and then IT’S MINE, SUCKAS.

• Castle Island – a remote island with a lighthouse, not a castle, that was used as a retreat for pirates
• Cat Island – has a population of 1,522 and it doesn’t specify so I’m assuming they mean cats.
• Cat Cay – BRB, adding a cat to my drawing…
• Catch Island
• Catto Cay
• Cave Cay
• Cay One – the Ben Stein of Bahamian islands
• Cay Sal Bank – is closer to Cuba than it is the rest of The Bahamas.
• Cay Santo Domingo
• Cay With Low Fall – huh?
• Caye a Rum
• Caye de Sel
• Channel Cay(s)
• Children’s Bay Cay
• Chub Cay – 46 people live on Chub Cay.
• Cistern Cay
• Clem Cay
• Cluffs Cay
• Coakley Cay
• Cockroach Cay – I will not be visiting here.
• Cocoa Cay
• Cocoa Plum Cay
• Comfort Cay
• Compass Cay
• Cold Cay – Make sure to get your vitamin sea!

Conception Island

Conception Island is an extremely important island for nesting seabirds, a hatching site for green sea turtles, home to an endemic species of boa, and presumably a popular spot with honeymooners.

• Conchshell Island
• Conchshell Cay
• Cook’s Cay
• Cormorant Cay
• Cornish Cay
• Cotton Bay Cay
• Cotton Cay
• Crab Cay
• Crisby Island
• Crooked Island – home to the first post office in The Bahamas, so that’s something
• Cross Cay
• Culmer’s Cay
• Cupids Cay
• Curly Cut Cays – my favorite kind of cays!
• Current Island

‘D’ islands of The Bahamas

• Damas Cays – an island of Spanish-speaking ladies?
• Danger Cay – Visit at your own risk, maybe?
• Daniels Cay
• Darby Island
• Darvill Cay
• Dead Man’s Cay – OMG there are totally Pirates of the Caribbean living here, right?
• Devil’s Cay
• Diamond Cay
• Dickies Cay
• Dilly Cay – I assume the Bud Knight vacations here.
• Discovery Island

Dolly’s Cay

Dolly’s Cay is basically just a large rock out in the ocean. (Don’t confuse this with Dolly Parton’s Cay which is two massive boulders.) It’s used as a nesting grounds for: bridled terns, sooty terns, Sandwich terns, and royal terns. Those are all birds so obviously naming things in the Caribbean is the best job ever.

• Doomey Cay – also a honeymoon island?
• Double Breasted Cay – Oh wait, is this Dolly Parton’s Cay?
• Double Headed Shot Cays – no idea
• Dove Cay – Chocolate or bird? Chocolate or bird?!!!
• Dry Cay
• Duck Cay(s)
• Dunc Cays

‘E’ islands

• East Cay
• Egg Island
• Elbow Cay – was originally populated by British loyalists fleeing the newly formed United States of America in 1785.
• Elbow Cays – Yup, these are different.

Eleuthera Island

Eleuthera is both an island and an island chain (containing Harbour, Windermere, Man, and Current Islands). It has a population of 11,000 and has an economy heavily dependent on tourism because, hello? Pink sand beaches! Also, Lenny Kravitz wrote a song called “Eleutheria” because apparently he lives there.

• Elizabeth Island – I’m assuming this was named after their queen? Wikipedia has failed me.

Exuma Island

Exuma Island is actually an island district that contains 365 islands–an island for every day of the year! I think I know how I’ll be spending 2022. Not only were some scenes from Pirates of the Caribbean filmed in the Exumas, but between the 16th and 18th centuries the deserted islands provided hideouts for actual pirates and their stashes. Read between the lines… buried treasure!

‘F’ islands

• Factory Cays – You don’t need to make any more cays, guys. You have 700 already.
• Falcon Cays
• Fanny Cay – What are the chances this is a nude beach?
• Fernandez Cay
• Fiddle Cay
• Fifteen Feet Cay
• Finley Cay
• Fish Cay(s)
• Fish Hawk Cay
• Fishing Cays
• Flamingo Cay – sounds like a magical place! 🦩
• Flat Cays
• Foots Cay
• Fowl Cay
• Frazer Hog Cay
• French Cay(s)
• Frog Cay
• Frozen Cay – This one’s for sale! Great deal! To purchase, your name must start with a “B” and end with an “-eyoncé”.

‘G’ islands

• Galliot Cay
• Garden Cay
• Gaulding Cay
• Gaulin Cay
• Geouge Island
• Gibson Cay
• Gibson Hog Cay
• Ginger Cay – a whole island of them?
• Glass Cay
• Goat Cay
• Gold Cay
• Gold Ring Cay – Okay now this is where the pirates should’ve left their booty.
• Golding Cay(s)
• Goole Cay
• Gorda Cay – is now known as Castaway Cay having been purchased by Disney. They only call it Gorda Cay after the tourists consume too many Mickey-shaped waffles.
• Goulding Cay

Grand Bahama

Grand Bahama Island is the northernmost island of The Bahamas and is only 52 miles off the coast of Palm Beach, Florida. It used to be a haven for Confederate smugglers after the Civil War and for booze smugglers during Prohibition. Today it’s a haven for farmers’ tans and tiki shirts that’ll never be worn again.

• Grand Cay(s)
• Great Cistern Cay
• Great Exuma Island
• Great Guana Cay
• Great Guano Cay – So ‘guano’ is poop.
• Great Harbour Cay

Great Inagua Island

The name originally given to this island by early settlers came from a Spanish term meaning “water is to be found here.” No!? On an island?

It was also there that many ships full of treasure crashed on the surrounding reefs between the years of 1500 – 1825. So, you’re telling me there’s just treasure all around this island? Does the metal-detecting population know about this? They’ve been embarrassing themselves on all the wrong beaches!

Great Inagua Island is also a major production site in the Morton Salt enterprise. (I use that!)

• Great Isaac Cay – is said to be both haunted and a factor in the Bermuda Triangle so hell no.
• Great Ragged Island
• Great Sale Cay – You mean it gets better than $29 mil?
• Great Seal Cay

Great Stirrup Cay

GSC is a private island owned by Norwegian Cruise Line and used primarily for its passengers but also has interesting Civil War and WWII histories (a place from which the Confederates could still export cotton and a spot from which the U.S. could detect approaching enemy submarines, respectively.)

• Green Cay
• Green Turtle Cay
• Griffins Cay
• Grunt Cay
• Guanahani Cay
• Guana Cay
• Guincho Ginger Cay
• Guinchos Island
• Gun Cay
• Gut Island – Well that’s gross.

‘H’ islands

• Haines Cay
• Halls Pond Cay
• Halls Islands
• Harbour Island – famous for its pink sand beaches but my cab driver told me it has the best fried chicken in the world, so, SOLD.
• Harvey Cay
• Harvey Cays
• Hawsbill Cays
• Hawksnest Cay
• Heneagua Island
• High Cay – [insert Beavis and Butthead laugh here]
• High Point Cay
• High Ridge Cay
• Highbourne Cay – Part of Westeros
• Hoffman Cay
• Hog Cay
• Holmes Cay

‘I’ islands

• Inagua Island
• India Cay
• Iron Cay
• Ishmael Cay

‘J’ islands

• Jamaica Cay
• James Cay
• Jewfish Cay – also known as Hummingbird Cay so I guess all these names are just totally fluid. Suggestions, rather.
• Joe Cays
• Joe Creek Island
• Joe Downer Cays – womp, womppp
• John Downer Cays
• Johnny’s Cay
• Johnsons Cay
• Josephs Cay
• Joulter Cays
• Jumento Cays

‘K’ islands

• Kamalame Cay
• Kemp Cay
• Kits Cay
• Knife Cay – Seriously, how many of these were named by swashbuckling pirates?

‘L’ islands

• Lanzadera Cay
• Laughing Bird Cay – Don’t show up here in your bathing suit.
• Lee Stocking Island
• Leonard Cay
• Levi Island
• Lightbourn’s Cay
• Lignumvitae Cay
• Linder Cay
• Little Abaco Island
• Little Bell Cay
• Little Bersus Cay
• Little Carters Island
• Little Cat Island – 😻
• Little Cave Cay
• Little Cay
• Little Cistern Cay
• Little Crab Cay
• Little Darby Island
• Little Exuma Island
• Little Farmer’s Cay
• Little Grand Cay
• Little Guana Cay
• Little Cuana Cay
• Little Harbour Cay
• Little Inagua Island
• Little Island
• Little Joe Downer Cay
• Little Lloyd Cay
• Little Major’s Island
• Little Nurse Cay
• Little Petit Cay – We get it–it’s small!
• Little Pimlico Cay
• Little Ragged Island
• Little Romers Cay
• Little Sale Cay – So basically all the other islands of The Bahamas, with the word ‘little’ in the front.

Little San Salvador Island

Also known as Half Moon Cay (Cay or Island? CAY OR ISLAND!?), LSSI is another private island owned by a cruise line, formerly Norwegian, now Holland America (who bought it for a measly $6 million).

Little Stirrup Cay

LSC (also known as Coco Cay) is a private island owned by Royal Caribbean and is the first example of an island being leased for the private use of cruise lines. I’ve never taken a cruise in my life. So when cruises say they go to The Bahamas, they just mean their own islands?

• Little Walker Cay
• Little Wax Cay
• Little Whale Cay
• Lizard Cay
• Lobos Cay
• Lobster Cay
• Lockhart Cay
• Loggerhead Cay
• Lone Pine Cay
• Long Cay – The main town on Long Cay is a ghost town. 😱
• Long Island – known for its caves and for being considered the most scenic of all the islands of The Bahamas
• Lovely Bay Cays
• Low Cay – I’m guessing no one really knows about the Low Cay?
• Low Water Harbour Cay
• Lower Crisby Cay
• Lubbers Quarters Cay
• Lucian Cay

‘M’ islands

• Madam Dau’s Cay
• Maderia Cay
• Major’s Island – more piggies!
• Mamma Rhonda Cay – I have a feeling this cay means business.
• Man Head Cay
• Man Island – Are you saying we can just send them all here?
• Man-O-War Cay(s) – Maybe don’t swim here either?
• Mangrove Cay
• Mangrove Island
• Manjack Cay
• Margaret Cay
• Mariguana Island – Mm-hmm, I see what you did there.
• Marine Cay
• Market Fish Cays
• Mary Cays
• Mastic Cay
• Mat Lowe’s Cay
• Mayaguana
• Maycock Cay
• Meeks Patch Island
• Melita Cay
• Michael’s Cay
• Middle Cay
• Middle Bight Cay
• Mira Por Vos Islands
• Money Cay – Okay this is where the filthy rich people should live, no?
• Moore’s Island
• Moraine Cay
• Moriah Harbour Cay
• Mouth of Harbou Cay
• Muertos Cays – Another pirate retreat methinks. 🏴‍☠️

Musha Cay

Musha Cay is owned by illusionist David Copperfield and the names of all the nearby islands in Copperfield Bay are as eye-rolling cheesy as you’d hope: Imagine Island, Secret Cay, Isle of Wonder, Enchanted Island, and so on.

‘N’ islands

• Narin Cay
• New Cay

New Providence

I’ve been to this one! New Providence is where you’ll find Nassau, the capital of The Bahamas, and Paradise Island housing the most intense resort you ever did see, Atlantis. New Providence houses 70% of the entire population of The Bahamas and even Oprah Winfrey when she feels like it. (I saw her house. Ehh, I’d live in it.)

Also check out
─
What did I get up to on New Providence island? Check out my post on how I spent my short trip to The Bahamas to get all the details and some helpful travel tips.

• Newton Cay
• Noah Bethel Cays
• Noname Cay – Come on, now. I don’t think you even tried.

Norman’s Cay

Norman’s Cay is famous for being the headquarters of the Columbian drug-smuggling operation led by Carlos Lehder and George Jung (subject of the movie Blow). And yes, the movie was filmed there–Johnny Depp is just all over The Bahamas, with and without excessive eyeliner.

• Norman’s Pond Cay
• North Andros
• North Bimini
• North Cat Cay
• North Cay
• North Elbow Cay
• North Halls Cay
• Northern Eleuthera
• Northwest Cay
• Noss Mangrove Island
• Nun Jack Cay – ‘Cause you ain’t gettin’…
• Nurse Cay
• Nurse Channel Cay – The least exciting of all the Television Cays.

‘O’ islands

• O’Brien Cay
• Ocean Cay
• Old Yankee Cay
• Orange Cay
• Outer Point Cay
• Over Yonder Cay – This one might be my favorite.
• Oyster Cay

‘P’ islands of The Bahamas

• Paradise Island – is basically just one gargantuan resort for pale American tourists.
• Parrot Cays
• Paw Paw Cay
• Peace and Plenty Island – Well that’s pleasant.
• Pear Cay
• Pelican Cays
• Pensacola Cays
• Perpall’s Cay
• Petit Cay
• Piana Cays
• Peirre Island
• Pigeon Cays
• Pimlico Cays
• Pimlico Island(s)
• Pine Cay
• Pine Tree Cay
• Pineapple Cays
• Pipe Cay
• Plana Cay
• Plum Cays
• Pot Cay – [insert Beavis and Butthead laugh here]
• Potter Cay – Yer an island!
• Powell Cay
• Prime Cay
• Pumpion Cay

‘R’ islands

Though I really wanna say “arrr” islands.

• Racoon Cay
• Ragged Island – Yikes, sorry about that.
• Rainbow Cay
• Randall’s Cay
• Ray Cay
• Ratman’s Cay – Where I assume he lives all alone and unbothered.
• Red Shank Cay
• Reid Cay
• Rock Harbour Cays
• Roker Cay
• Rose Island
• Royal Island
• Rudder Cut Cay
• Rum Cay – I FOUND MY NEW HOME.
• Russell Island

‘S’ islands

• Saddle Back Cay
• Saddle Cay
• Sailor’s Choice Cay
• Sales Cay
• Salt Cay
• Salt Pond Cay
• Samana Cays
• Samphire Cays
• Sampson Cay

San Salvador

San Salvador is known to be the very first island Christopher Columbus landed on in 1492, when he thought he’d reached the East Indies. Today San Salvador is mainly a tourist island whose main community is called Cockburn Town (you can’t make this stuff up).

• Sand Bank Cays
• Sanders Island
• Sandy Cay
• Sandy Harbour Cay
• Sapodilla Cay
• Schooner Cay
• Scotland Cay
• Scrub Cays
• Seal Cay
• Sheep Cay
• Ship Channel Cay
• Shroud Cays
• Silver Cay
• Simms Cay
• Sister Cays
• Six Shilling Cays
• Smith Cay – I own you.
• Snake Cay
• Snapper Cay
• Soldier Cays
• South Bimini
• South Cat Cay
• South Cay
• South Channel Cay
• South Spot Cay
• South Mangrove Cays
• South Stirrup Cay
• Southeast Cay
• Southern Cay
• Spanish Cay
• Spanish Wells Cay – I’ve been here!
• St. George’s Caye – Nope, just kidding. I’ve been to “Spanish Wells” which apparently is a town on St. George’s Cay. So, I haven’t been to Spanish Wells Cay. I think.
• Staniard Cay

Staniel Cay

Staniel Cay is home to a small Bahamian village and is protected by The Bahamas National Trust, a kind of UNESCO World Heritage situation that protects an area believed to be of significant historic importance and natural beauty.

• Steamer Cay
• Stocking Island
• Strachan Cay
• Stranger Cay – Please tell me this is next to Danger Cay.
• Sugar Loaf Cay
• Sun Cay
• Sweetings Cay

‘T’ islands

• Tarzan Cay
• Tear Coat Cay
• Tee Cay – Do they call their drinking establishments ‘Tee Cay bars’?
• Thatch Cays
• Thomas Cay
• Thompson Cay
• Tilloo Cay
• Top Cay
• Tumar Cay
• Turner Cay
• Twin Cays

‘U’ islands

• Upper Cay
• Upper Channel Cay
• Upper Samphier Cay
• Upper Sandy Harbour Cay

‘V’ islands

• Verd Key
• Victory Cays
• Vigilant Cay

‘W’ islands of The Bahamas

• Waderick Wells Cay

Walker’s Cay

Walker’s Cay is said to be named after a British judge named Thomas Walker who was exiled to the island in the early 1700s. After he died, the island was uninhabited for more than 200 years.

So you’re telling me this guy was exiled to a deserted island and just left there? That’s the dream! How do I make this happen? And what three things did he bring with him? Just curious…

• Water Cay – So this isn’t “water is to be found here” Island?
• Wax Cay
• Weatherford Cay
• Well Cay
• West Cay
• West Shroud Cay
• Wet Cay
• Whale Cay
• White Bay Cay
• White Cay
• William Cay
• William Island
• Willis Cay
• Wilson Cay – I feel like Wilson Cay and Castaway Cay are pretty close…
• Wiltshires Cay

Windermere Island

Princess Diana and Prince Charles spent their honeymoon here in 1981. Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon got married here in 2008. Jacques Cousteau, Toni Braxton, Lyndon B. Johnson, and the Duke and Duchess of Abercorn (is that even a real place?) have all lived on Windermere Island in what has to be the most fascinating mix of residents ever.

• Wood Cay
• Woolen Dean Cay

‘Y’ islands

• Yellow Cay
• Young Cay
• Yuma Island

Not even all the islands of The Bahamas

Full disclosure: That list is not even 500-strong.

Many of these islands and cays are actually small groups of such and, from what I can tell, many of them don’t even have names. Besides the “official” 700 islands of The Bahamas, there are an additional 2,400+ rocks, tiny island-wannabes, and mini-cays.

I swear to God the reason there is no exact number and many of them lack names is because whoever is in charge just straight up stop giving a damn about keeping track. They’re all gorgeous and pristine! Can we just call it a day already!?

More info on the islands of The Bahamas

› Heading to The Bahamas? Read hotel reviews on TripAdvisor or book your room now!
› What else have I written about the Caribbean? Check out these posts.
› What guidebook should you get? This one!
› Like this post? Have questions? Reach out on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram